English

Program Options

Program Overview

The program in English is committed to establishing a habit of lifelong learning that emphasizes the relationship of reading, writing and critical thinking. Undergraduate English majors will be able to:

reflect critically on issues of textual representation in a diverse set of texts from literary classics to contemporary film, from the Anglo-Saxon canon to postcolonial and feminist expansions of that canon;

reflect on habits of reading and writing and be able to identify their strengths and limitations in particular contexts;

use a range of styles and approaches in their writing;

understand the interrelated nature of writing, reading, thinking, and creating;

read a text with close attention to its many facets;

understand past, present and potential approaches to English studies and its relationship to other academic disciplines;

be aware of a variety of aesthetic, political, material and social contexts for and approaches to English studies.

Our courses involve students in a range of activities, including discussions (in class and online), collaborative projects, conferences, presentations, independent study, internships, and service learning.

The English Department is committed to supporting interdisciplinary programs and encourages students to pursue interdisciplinary concentrations, second majors and/or minors. A number of the Department's courses are cross-listed with interdisciplinary programs, facilitating such study. In addition, the English major permits students to include related courses taken outside the department for credit toward their program of study, subject to approval by the student’s English Department adviser.

Our graduates pursue professional careers in such fields as professional writing, editing, advertising, publishing, education, management, computers, public relations and public service, or pursue post-baccalaureate study in English studies, law school or medical school. Students contemplating graduate study should confer with their advisers about special preparation and should be aware that many graduate schools typically expect proof of competence in foreign languages. Students interested in pursuing careers in primary or secondary education can obtain certification by completing the appropriate professional courses in teacher education.

B.A. Degree Requirements

The English major requires 36 hours: at least 15 at the lower division and at least 18 at the upper division. The English major allows for 9 hours of electives, 6 of which must be 100-level courses. At least 18 hours of the required 36 must be 100-level courses. An English course may be used only once to fulfill a particular major requirement. (ENG 054, for instance, may fulfill either Genres or Historicity, but not both.) Transfer students majoring in English must take at least 18 hours of English at Drake. Students with advanced placement (A.P.) will be credited 3 hours of lower-level elective toward the major.

Course

Credits

Lower Division Core

Gateway

6

ENG 038 - Literary Study (should be taken first or second year)

3

ENG 039 - Writing Seminar (should be taken first or second year)

3

History and Traditions

3

Any ENG course numbered 040-059

3

Culture and Identity

3

Any ENG course numbered 060-079

3

Writing: Topics and Genres

3

Any ENG course numbered 080-099

Upper Division - Students must have completed at least 30 hours (including no more than 15 A.P./I.B./high-school transfer hours) and at least 3 hours of the lower division core or received special permission from the instructor to register for upper division courses. Specific prerequisites may be required for some courses.

Choose a track and complete 9 hours from within one track:

History and Traditions

ENG 104 - History of English Language

3

ENG 124 - Advanced Topics in History and Traditions

3

ENG 126 - Film/TV History and Criticism

0-3

ENG 130 - Studies in Literary Genre

0-3

ENG 131 - Major Historical Figures

3

ENG 132 - Dickens in London

3

ENG 133 - Major Contemporary Figures

3

ENG 140 - Shakespeare: Texts and Contexts

3

ENG 142 - Topics in Early English Texts

3

ENG 143 - Advanced Topics in Early Modern Texts

3

ENG 146 - 19th Century British Literature

3-5

ENG 150 - Poetry and Society 1720-1920

3

ENG 152 - 19th Century American Literature

3

ENG 166 - Literature of War

3

ENG 169 - Theories of Myth and Archetypes

3

Theory and Criticism

ENG 102 - Structure of Modern American English

3

ENG 104 - History of English Language

3

ENG 109 - Prose Stylistics

3

ENG 111 - Reading/Writing Personal Essay

3

ENG 112 - Autobiography and Memoir

3

ENG 123 - Advanced Topics in Theory and Criticism

3

ENG 126 - Film/TV History and Criticism

0-3

ENG 130 - Studies in Literary Genre

0-3

ENG 141 - Advanced Topics in Irish Literature

3

ENG 147 - 20th Century British Literature

3

ENG 149 - Contemporary British Literature

3

ENG 155 - 20th Century American Literature

3

ENG 156 - Contemporary American Literature

3

ENG 158 - Literature of South Africa

3

ENG 163 - Trans-Cultural Literature

3

ENG 164 - Latino/a Literature

3

ENG 165 - Postcolonial Literature

3

ENG 166 - Literature of War

3

ENG 168 - Storytelling/Social Practice

0-3

ENG 169 - Theories of Myth and Archetypes

3

ENG 171 - Teaching Writing

3

ENG 172 - Teaching Tutorial Writing

3

Film, Drama, and New Media

ENG 126 - Film/TV History and Criticism

0-3

ENG 127 - Advanced Topics in New Media

3

ENG 128 - Advanced Topics in Drama

3

ENG 129 - Advanced Topics in Film

0-3

ENG 140 - Shakespeare: Texts/Contexts

3

Culture and Identity

ENG 125 - Advanced Topics in Culture & Identity

3-5

ENG 135 - Adolescent Literature

3

ENG 141 - Advanced Topics in Irish Literature

3

ENG 142 - Topics in Early English Texts

3

ENG 143 - Advanced Topics in Early Modern Texts

3

ENG 146 - 19th Century British Literature

3

ENG 147 - 20th Century British Literature

3

ENG 149 - Contemporary British Literature

3

ENG 152 - 19th Century American Literature

3

ENG 155 - 20th Century American Literature

3

ENG 156 - Contemporary American Literature

3

ENG 158 - Literature of South Africa

3

ENG 163 - Trans-Cultural Literature

3

ENG 164 - Latino/a Literature

3

ENG 165 - Postcolonial Literature

3

ENG 168 - Storytelling/Social Practice

0-3

Capstone - students must have completed ENG 038 and ENG 039 and have junior or senior standing to register for the capstone

ENG 195 - Capstone in English and Writing, or ENG 197 - Capstone in English

3

Electives - At least six hours earned in courses numbered ENG 100 and higher. Up to three hours in courses numbered ENG 020-099. Courses may be taken outside of the department with advisor approval. Up to six individual experience hours (internship, independent study, portfolio) may be counted as electives. Nine upper-division elective hours may be used to fulfill a second track. Please consult the course lists above four courses that fulfill requirements foreach of the specific tracks: Theory and Criticism; Film, Drama, and New Media; Culture and Identity; History and Traditions.